A new Digital Council will advise the German government on digitalization in the future. Chancellor Merkel wishes for "a small, effective body" with men and women from practice, "who drive us, who ask us uncomfortable questions." The Federal Cabinet has now announced the members of this body.
The digital transformation offers enormous opportunities for the people in Germany. In order for everyone to participate, the federal government must set the right political course. Some things are already going well, but many projects are still ahead of us. In their implementation, the Digital Council will support the federal government from the outside with its expertise.
The Council will meet with the Chancellor and other members of the federal government at least twice a year. In addition, it will hold additional separate sessions.
Its members work on a voluntary basis.
The establishment of this body was already agreed upon by the governing parties in the coalition agreement: "The federal government will appoint a Digital Council that enables close exchange between politics and national as well as international experts."
New Ideas from the Outside
In the new Digital Council, independent experts from the fields of science, research, and business are collaborating. With their experience, they cover the entire spectrum of the digital scene: women and men, scientists and "doers," start-up founders and established entrepreneurs. They all represent practical experience and innovation. Chancellor Angela Merkel is convinced that the work of the Digital Council will generate many new ideas that "we as a government can put into action."
In its meeting on August 22, 2018, the Federal Cabinet appointedten expertsfrom Germany and other countries to the new advisory body.
Critical Perspective Welcome
The members of the Digital Council are expected to support the federal government with their expertise and ask the right questions - the Council should also be uncomfortable and drive progress. This is precisely what politics needs in order to keep pace with technological developments and translate them into practical government action.
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Source: The Federal Government (https://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Artikel/2018/08/2018-08-21-digitalrat.html)
